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Information regarding COVID-19 (novel coronavirus)

As the implications of the homepage-hotspot-COVID COVID-19 response unfold, our primary focus is to support the education community, while helping to keep people safe.

The Ministry of Health is the Government agency leading the response to COVID-19 and is where you should go for up-to-date health information and advice.

Key updates can also be found on the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade websites. The Government now has a dedicated webpage for COVID-19 updates at https://covid19.govt.nz/

Please find information from NZQA relevant to your circumstances in the links below.

Tertiary providers and students

Information for tertiary providers

Quality Assurance

Alternative delivery methods for education

Student Fee Protection and other information for PTEs

Extensions for annual and quarterly private training establishment (PTE) returns

The Ministry of Health continues to monitor the situation with regards to COVID-19. The health of students and staff is a priority and up to date health information is available at COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) guidance – Ministry of Health website.

If you have a particular health concern about a student or staff member, ask the student or staff member to call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 (or +64 9 358 5453 for international SIMS).

If you have any questions and enquiries relating to NZQA’s quality assurance activities or the pastoral care of students during this time, please contact us at covid19.enquiries@nzqa.govt.nz. This includes signatories to the Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice who may have a specific question about applying the Code.

For other information and advice please refer to the Ministry of Education website.

Expiring English language proficiency test results

A number of international students may have to delay starting their studies in New Zealand as a result of the COVID-19 travel restrictions. If you have made an offer of a place to an international student, and that student’s English language proficiency result was valid at the time the offer of a place was made, that student does not need to sit another English language proficiency test if their result expires before their deferred start date, providing the deferment is within twelve months of their original offer of a place.

Information for tertiary students and trainees

Students and family members of anyone studying at a tertiary education or training organisation in New Zealand can get information about COVID-19 (Novel coronavirus) from health providers, tertiary education organisations and the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC).

If you are unwell, please call Healthline's dedicated COVID-19 line (free of charge) on 0800 358 5453 or call your doctor.
You can also contact your local District Health Board.
Please contact your tertiary education organisation directly for information regarding your accommodation, classes and anything relating to your study during this time.
For any other information that your tertiary education provider is unable to help with, please call TEC on 0800 123 797.

International students should contact their insurance provider directly for up-to-date advice on any changes to their cover as a result of COVID-19, consider their options, and take the course of action that is in their best interest.

All tertiary education organisations have been contacted with information about COVID-19 and you can find more information here.

Secondary Schools

Guidance for school assessment

Polyfest assessment

Useful information for schools and parents can also be found in the Ministry of Education’s Bulletin for School Leaders | He Pitopito Kōrero.